Ratchet winch



Feb. 7, 1967 w. L. BLACKBURN 3,302,931

RATCHET WINCH Filed June 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO/P/Vf VJ Feb. 7, 1967 w. L. BLACZKBURN RATCHET WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1966 l lllllllllllll 'lll IIIIIHIIIHII INVENTOR. 4/75 X. 44/714 5/? Jfl/ War/fer A fi/ackur r wk x U Q Q Q mm ATTO/P VIFVJ Feb. 7, 1967 Filed June 15, 1966 w. BLACKBURN 3,302,931

RATCHET WINCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wa/fer Z. .B/ac/rww 1 N VENTOR.

ATTOH/VE VJ 1967 w. L. BLACKBURN 3,302,931

RATCHET WINCH Filed June 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wa/fer L. .B/acX bu/w INVENTOR JuMCJ' MY/ W A. 5 94/ FM 4. awfl" 7 K. 7%;

ATTORNEY 3,302,931 RATCHET WINCH Walter L. Blackburn, 6105 England St., Houston, Tex. 77021 Filed June 15, 1966, Ser. No. 562,061 16 Claims. (Cl. 254-186) This invention constitutes a oontinuation-in-part of my co-pending application entitled, Ratchet Winch, Serial No. 441,654, filed March 22, 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a ratchet winch for interconnecting a barge train by cable, and particularly to an improved ratchet winch which is manually operable by effective mechanical advantage and is suitable for permanent installation on a barge deck.

The common practice heretofore followed in the makeup of barge tows has been the use of steamboat ratchets and wire rope or cable to connect barges in a train. Also widely used have been manually or power operated cable winches. Use of these devices has required extensive labor or expensive power means and the problem is unduly multiplied in long tows comprising 20 to 30 barges which are now quite common.

The present invention is directed to an improved steamboat ratchet winch which is to be permanently, but pivotally fastened to a barge deck. The improved ratchet winch of the present invention provides manually quick and mechanically efficient tow cable tightening means quickly releasable under load, thereby substantially decreasing the makeup time and reducing the labor involved when connecting and disconnecting barges.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device attaining the foregoing advantages, and particularly one with increased ease of operation, efficiency and makeup time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means in a ratchet winch for securing a tow cable thereto in a rapid and resolute manner, in addition to means for quick release of the cable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet winch wherein coarse adjustment of cable tension can be made rapidly and with little effort.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a permanently attached rachet winch horizontally and vertically maneuverable to accommodate barges of differing size and deck heights.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, durable and compact manually operable ratchet winch and assembly with highly efficient mechanical advantage to obviate the necessity of steamboat ratchets for tightening as well as releasing cable tension.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of means limiting the number of turns of cable on the winch drum thereby maintaining high mechanical advantage of the present invention.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like character references designate like parts throughout the several views and where:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present invention, partially cut away, showing the manual ratchet control and release means, cable limiting device, and deck connecting means,

FIGURE 2 is a partial end view partially in section taken along the lins 2-2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view of the foot operated brake means,

United States Patent FIGURE 4 is a partial side view partially in section taken along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2 showing cable attachment means of the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is a partial plan view partially in section showing the manual ratchet control means of the present invention,

FIGURE 6 is a partial side view of the manual ratchet control means taken along line 6--6 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a partial side view of an alternative embodiment of dog means for releasably locking the ratchet wheel, and

FIGURE 8 is a partial side view of the releasable dog means of FIGURE 7 shown out of engagement with ths ratchet wheel.

The present invention generally comprises a manually operable winch with means promoting highly efficient mechanical advantage for tightening tow cable tension, quickly releasable under load, having unique cable attaching means, and horizontally and vertically maneuverable while permanently attached to a barge deck.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1, the reference numeral 1t) generally refers to the improved ratchet winch of the present invention. Mounted on the base plate 12 are side members 14 forming a frame to which is rotatably connected a shaft 16. A ratchet wheel 18 is securely fastened to the shaft 16 and is operated by manual reciprocal control or crank means designated generally by the reference numeral 20.

Pivotally mounted on a side member 14 are dog means designated generally by the reference numeral 22, and mounted vertically on the base plate 12 are means generally designated by the reference numeral 24 for limiting the number of cable turns. Said cable limiting means 24 interact with the drum 26 mounted on the horizontal shaft 16. Furthermore, the base plate 12 is attached to the barge deck 28 by means of a connector generally designated by the numeral 29 comprising a U-bolt 30 secured to a doubler plate 32 wherein the U-bolt 30 engages an elongate hole 33 in the tongue 34 of the base plate 12.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, which is a partial end view partially in section, the base plate 12 and side members 14 provide a frame on which is horizontally mounted the revolving shaft 16. Permanently secured to the shaft are the ratchetwheel 18, drum 26, and a handwheel 36. Preferably, the: drum 26 has helical grooves 27 on its surface to receive the windings of a tow cable. Wedge means designated by the reference numeral 38 are attached to the drum 36 and the ratchet wheel 18 to securely fasten the cable 40 which winds around the drum 26 and interconnects barges in the barge train. The number of windings on the drum 26 is limited by the limitation means 24 thus requiring the cable which ties one barge to another and which is wound around drum 26 to be of a length short enough so that it will fit on the drum within the limits set by the limiting means 24. In addition, the cable limiting means 24 serve to guide and force the cable 40 into the helical grooves 27 of the drum 26.

A unique advantage of the present invention becomes apparent upon consideration of the ratio of the diameter of the drum 26 to the diameter of the ratchet wheel 18. A drum of a small diameter with few cable windings on it in operation with a ratchet wheel of greater diameter results in a high mechanical advantage when force through the manual reciprocating control means 20 is applied to the ratchet wheel 18 to increase tension in the tying cable 40. In other words, the force in the cable which ties the barges together creates a moment arm which is resolved or offset by the stationary shaft 16 and the reciprocating control means 20 acting on the periphery of the ratchet wheel 18. For example, if the diameter of the drum 26 is small and approximates the diameter of the shaft 16, the stationary shaft 16 creates a moment arm to offset the moment arm of the cable 40. On the other hand, if the diameter of the drum 26 is greater and approximates that of the ratch wheel 18, then the moment of the shaft 16 decreases and the moment arm'of the reciprocating control means acting on the periphery of the ratchet wheel 18 increases. In the latter situation, manual force imparted to the ratchet wheel 18 by means of reciprocating control means 20 must approximate the force of the barges acting on the cable 40 in order to offset such force in the cable 40. Therefore, it becomes apparent that a drum of small diameter as well as a minimum of cable turns on the drum are desirable to decrease the manual force which must be imparted through the reciprocating control means to the ratchet wheel in order to increase tension in the cable 40.

For example, if tension in the cable 40 exerts 90,000 pounds force and the effective diameter of the drum 26 with one layer of the cable is one-third the diameter of the ratchet wheel 18, the shaft 16 will bear approximately 60,000 pounds force and the reciprocating control means 20 acting on the periphery of the ratchet shell will bear approximately 30,000 pounds force to offset the cable force. However, if the layers of cable windings on the drum are increased thereby increasing the effective diameter of the drum to two-thirds the diameter of the ratchet shell, the same 90,000 pound force load of the cable must be offset by exerting approximately 60,000 pounds force on the periphery of the ratchet wheel through the reciprocating control means 20 and the shaft 16 will bear an approximate 30,000 pound load. Manual operation of the reciprocating control means 20 is effected with greater ease in the first situation described than in the second. Thus, the cable winding limitation means 24 to be discussed fully hereafter provides a device to automatically limit the number of turns of cable 40 on the drum 26 to increase effectiveness of manual force imparted through the reciprocating control means 20 to the ratchet wheel 18 when increasing tension in the cable 40.

The cable limiting means 24 which restricts the number of windings of cable 4-0 on the drum 26 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises two vertical arms 42 secured to the base plate 12. Pivotally attached by bolts to the upper end of each vertical arm 42 is an extension member 44 to which is attached a transverse bar or stud 46. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 1, a spring 48 is attached to the end of the extension member 44 opposite the transversely mounted stud 46. The other end of the spring is attached to the side member 14 thereby holding the extension member 44 in a vertical position. However, the extension member 44 can pivot on the bolts 50, and such pivoting action is limited by lugs 52 coacting with slots 54 in the vertical arms 42. Thus, the extension members 44 as shown in FIGURE 1 can pivot 90 degrees clockwise from a vertical position when contacted by a suflicient number of cable windings on a drum 26. However, if the vertical arms 42 are mounted in a position on the base plate 12 such that the transverse stud 46 is tangent to a vertical line taken through the center of the drum 26, then the extension member 44 will not pivot on bolts 50 as the binding force of the cable on the drum 26 is forcing the lugs 52 against the lower end of the slots 54 in the vertical arms 42. When such binding action is complete, no further windings of cable 40 on the drum 26 will occur. In order to allow for unexpected slack in the cable 40 and for the cable 40 to be wound on the drum 26, the vertical arms 42 must be mounted on the base plate 12 in a position such that the transverse stud 46 is just to the right of a vertical line taken through the center of drum 26 in FIGURE 1. In this position,

the cable limiting means 24 provide effective restriction of the number of turns of cable 40 on the drum 26 yet allow for slack in such cable. In addition, coaction of the pivotal extension members, lugs 52, slots 54 and spring 48 allows the extension members 44 and trans verse stud 46 mounted thereon to yieldingly permit the cable 40 to unwind without binding with the cable limiting means 24 when tension in the cable is released.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a partial side view of the hand wheel 36 is shown in contact with friction brake means comprising a circular wedge member 56 slidably and forcibly mounted between the hand wheel 36 and base 12 by means of a concave brake base plate 62 securely fastened to the base plate 12. The wedge member 56 can be urged into contact with the hand wheel 36 by pressing on the brake pedal 60 which is pivotally mounted on a side member 14. A brake arm 58 is pivotally and eccentrically connected to the pedal 60 and is pivotally attached to the wedge member 56 to provide suitable linkage between the pedal and wedge member.

The hand wheel 36 serves a dual purpose in that it provides rapid adjustment means for the cable 40 as well as braking means when load in cable 40 is released. Thus tension in the cable 40 which connects one barge to another can be increased quickly by manual turning of the hand wheel 36 prior to operation of the ratchet wheel 18 by reciprocating control means 20. When it is desired to disconnect barges secured by cable 40, the load tension in the cable 40 is released by freeing the ratchet wheel 18 as will be explained fully hereinafter. In order to prevent backlash upon rapid load release, the brake pedal 60 is operated by pressing downward with the foot. Force is thus imparted to the circular wedge member 56 which presses against the periphery of the hand wheel 36 producing a binding effect and stopping circular motion of the hand wheel.

With reference now to FIGURE 4, the wedge means 38 securing the cable 40 to the drum 26 is shown in detail. The wedge means 38 comprises a wedge receiver 64 attached to the drum 26 and interior side of the ratchet wheel 18. The cable 40 is passed through the receiver 64 whereupon an arcuate wedge 66 is driven into the receiver 64 to bind the cable 40 against the drum 26. To so bind the cable, the wedge 66 is driven into the receiver 64 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in outline in FIGURE 4. Thus the effective direction of the force acting on cable 40 when connecting barges tends to pull the wedge 66 into the receiver 64. For effective binding action, the wedge 66 preferably is provided with a circular inner annular grooved surface 67 to promote binding with a wire rope or cable as shown in FIGURE 2.

To facilitate removal of the wedge 66 from the receiver 64 when it is desired to disconnect the cable 40 from the drum 26, means are provided as shown in FIG- URE 4 wherein a ramrod 68, pivotally secured by a bolt 70 fastened in turn to support plates 72 mounted on the base plate 12, contacts the wedge 66 at the upper end of the ramrod. The ramrod 68 is supported against the wedge 66 by means of a lug 74 pivotally mounted by a bolt 75 to the support means 72. To effect removal of the wedge 66, the hand wheel 36 is manually operated in a pounding manner with force directed counter-clockwise whereby the resulting pounding of the ramrod 68 on the end of the wedge 66 drives the wedge out of the receiver 64. An alternative embodiment of the ramrod feature is a second ramrod 68a which, by the same poundmg operation, can be used to initially drive the wedge 66 into the receiver 64 and thereby bind the cable 40 against the drum 26. The ramrod 68a is supported by a lug 74a and bolt 75a similar to the lug 74 and bolt 75. The ramrod 68 can serve as ramrod 68a if constructed to telescope and swing pivotally on the bolt 70 so as to pass under the drum 26 into the position of the ramrod 68a. FIGURE 2 shows ramrods 68 and 68a in a disengaged position in relation to the wedge means.

With reference to FIGURE 5, taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4, a partial plan view of the reciprocating control means 20 is shown mounted on the base plate 12. The side member 14 and a shorter parallel side member 76 serve as supports for the reciprocating control means. A lever handle 78 drives the reciprocating control means.

FIGURE 6 is a partial side elevation taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5 and shows detail of the reciprocating control means which comprises pivotable dual pawls 80 and 82 eccentrically mounted on a centrally pivoted slotted pin 84 by means of bolts 85. The embodiment of the pin 84 shown in FIGURE 6 is rotatably mounted within and between sides 14 and 76 as supports. The pawls 80 and 82 and the pin 84 are mounted so that operation of the lever 78 which is permanently secured to the pin 84 are mounted so that operation of the lever 78 which is permanently secured to the pin 84 creates a tangential push by the pawls 80 and 82 on the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18. Such tangential pushing action makes optimum use of manual force exerted on the ratchet wheel 18 by the lever and pawl assembly.

Eccentric mounting of the pawls 80 and 82 on the pin 84 combined with clockwise and then counter-clockwise manual reciprocating operation of the lever 78 results in continuous pushing by the pawls of the ratchet wheel 18. More specifically, when the pin 84 of FIGURE 6 is rotated by lever 78 in a counter-clockwise direction, the pawls 80 engages and pushes a tooth 19 forcing the ratchet wheel 18 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby wind the tying cable 40 and increasing tension in said cable. During the counter-clockwise rotation of pin 84, the pawl 82 is pulled back from a tooth 19 of ratchet wheel 18 and rides thereover. Upon further counter-clockwise rotation of the pin 84, the pawl 80 completes a full stroke and exhausts its pushing ability. Thereupon the lever handle 78 is rotated in a clockwise direction which causes the upper pawl 82 to push another tooth 19 again turning the ratchet wheel 18 in a counterclockwise direction. During this operation, the lower pawl 80 is being pulled back from a tooth 19. By repeating the clockwise followed by counter-clockwise rotation of lever 78 in reciprocating fashion, the ratchet Wheel 18 is moved in continuous counterclockwise rotation thereby imparting tension to the tying cable 40.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the dog means 22 provides a locking action when pawls 80 and 82 complete their respective pushing strokes. Thus the ratchet wheel 18 is continuously forced in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 1 and tension in the tying cable 40 is steadily increased. The dog means 22 comprises a dog 86 eccentrically mounted on a centrally pivoting rocking member 88 which is rotatably attached to the side member 14. The dog 86 has a triangular head 89 which interacts with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18 to prevent clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel while being pushed in a counter-clockwise direction by the reciprocating control means 20.

FIGURE 4 shows detail of construction of the rocking member 88 which is attached to the side member 14 for central pivoting. The rocking member 88 is provided with a lever end 90 and has an eccentrically mounted pin 91 to which the dog 86 is rotatably connected. The rocking member is provided also with a lower projection 93 to force the dog 86 into engagement with a tooth 19 of the ratchet wheel when downward pressure is applied by foot to the lever end 90 of the rocking member. Preferably, the lever end 90 is constructed of heavy material to provide adequate weight so that the rocking member 88 and projection 93 act as a fulcrum to maintain the dog 86 in engagement with a tooth of the ratchet wheel. However, a spring 87 is provided to insure such engagement.

Referring once again to FIGURE 1, when it is desired to disconnect barges and release tension load in the cable 40 wound around the drum 26, the reciprocating control means 20 are disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18 as will hereinafter be explained. The dog 86 continues to hold the load by contact with an appropriate tooth of the ratchet wheel, but is disengaged by upwardly kicking the lever end 90 of the rocking member 80. Thereupon the rocking member 88 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and the eccentrically mounted dog 86 is forced down and to the left. A lug 92 mounted on the side member 14 directs the dog 86 along its triangular head 89 into disengagement with the ratchet wheel 18. Thus provided is a quick load release device easily operated by foot action which may be used even though the win-ch is fully loaded.

As an alternative to the dog means 22 just described, another and preferred embodiment of means for releasably locking the ratchet wheel 18 is dog means represented generally in FIGURES 7 and 8 by the reference numeral 200. A dog 202 for engaging the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18 is eccentrically and pivotally mounted by a pin 204 to a centrally pivoting rocking member 206. The centrally pivoting rocking member 206 is rotatably attached to the side 14 of the ratchet winch device. Integrally formed of the rocking member 206 is a projection 208 which acts as a fulcrum to maintain the dog 202 in engagement with the ratchet wheel as shown in FIG- URE 7.

The rocking member 206 which projects through the side member 14 has centrally mounted on its opposite end by a pin 210 a lever arm 212 shown in dotted outline. The arm 212 rests on a lug 214 as shown so that the force of the length and weight of the arm 212 tends to maintain the dog 202 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. By properly spacing the dog, arm, lugs and projection on the rocking member as shown, the wheel 18 is capable of a ratcheting movement but not a cable release movement.

With reference now to FIGURE 8, the releasable dog means 200 is shown out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18. To accomplish such disengagement, the arm 212 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 8 to contact a lug 216 which projects from the same end of the rocking member 206 on which the arm 212 is mounted. By applying downward force on the arm 212, the arm engages the lug 216 to rotate the rocking member 206 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus the dog 202 drops out of engagement with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18 to permit cable release movement of the ratchet wheel. This embodiment of the releasable dog means is advantageous in that a pushing force is supplied against the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18 to lock the ratchet wheel while in the previously mentioned embodiment a pulling force is applied. It thus becomes apparent that the dog means 200 can withstand much greater forces imparted to the ratchet wheel 18 by the particular cable being tightened. Also, the eccentrically mounted pushing dog 202 in combination with the arm 212 provides an extremely secure locking effect.

Referring once again to FIGURE 6, a control bar linkage device comprising springs and levers is employed to hold the pawls 80 and 82 in engagement with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18. The spring and lever combination also permits a rapid means of disengaging the pawls from the teeth of the ratchet wheel when it becomes necessary to release the load from the ratchet winch. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, a leaf spring 94 suitably mounted on lever 96 holds the pawl 80 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Similarly, leaf spring 98 mounted on lever 100 holds the pawl 82 in engagement with the ratchet teeth. The levers 96 and 100 are pivotally connected by pins 102 to the side member 14 and the side support means 76 of FIGURE 5. The vertical lever 104 supports the levers 96 and 100 by means of bolts 103 in a parallelogram arrangement which can be adjusted by the cam 106 pivotally mounted by bolt 108 to the side member 14 and the side support means 76. A lever handle 110 shown in FIGURE operates the cam 106. When the cam 106 presses against the lower horizontal lever 96, the lever and spring arrangement forces the pawls 80 and 82 into engagement with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18. When the cam 106 is forced by lever handle 110 into contact with the upper horizontal lever 100, the pawls 80 and 82 are released from engagement with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel. The leaf springs 94 and 98 connectably engage the pawls 80 and 82 by means of loops 188 formed in the pawls or other suitable attachment means such as bolts or weld metal. The cam, lever and spring arrangement thus provide a simple means for engaging the pawls 80 and 82 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and further provide a quick and effective release means to disengage the pawls from the ratchet wheel teeth.

It is to be recognized that the control or crank means 20 and the spring and lever arrangement associated therewith as just described may be mounted on a side member 14 at any convenient location around the periphery of the ratchet wheel 18. In addition, a suitable cover may be adapted to protect the device of the present invention.

In operation, the ratchet winch is first pivotally connected to the deck of a barge by engaging the U-bolt 30 of FIGURE 1 with the elongate hole 33 of the tongue 34 formed in the base plate 12. Then the U-bolt 30 is welded or otherwise suitably attached to the doubler plate 32 which in turn is attached to the deck 28 of a barge. Use of the doubler plate to attach the U-bolt to the barge deck increases the strength of the connection.

After the ratchet winch is secured to the barge deck, the tow cable 40, which is of a suitable length for use with the ratchet winch, is conventionally attached to the barges and is then connected to the drum 26 of the ratchet winch by wedge means 38 of FIGURE 4. Rapid attachment is accomplished by use of the ramrod 68a and pounding rotation of the hand wheel 36 to drive the wedge 66 into the wedge receiver 64. Thus the tow cable 40 is forcibly held against the drum 26 in a secure connection.

The hand wheel 36 as shown in FIGURE 2 is then rotated to wind the tow cable 40 about the drum 26 until slack in the cable is removed. The cable limiting means 24 guides the cable onto the drum and at the same time limits the number of cable windings. Thereupon, the reciprocating control means of FIGURE 1 is operated to create tension in the tow cable 140 and draw barges in the tow train tightly together. The lever handle 78 is manually reciprocated in a clockwise and then a counter-clockwise direction, and so on, until the cable 40 is drawn taut. In this operation, first and upper pawl 82 of FIGURE 6 is pushed against the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel 18 and then the lower pawl 80 is similarly pushed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each pawl pushes one tooth 19 one-half the distance of the circumferential width of a tooth on the ratchet wheel 18. Thus one full clockwise stroke of the lever handle 78 and one full counter-clockwise stroke of the lever handle force the ratchet wheel 18 in a tightening direction the distance of the circumferential width of one tooth on the periphery of the ratchet wheel. In this manner, manual force supplied through the lever handle 78 is exerted in small increments promoting ease of operation.

While the reciprocating control means 20 are being operated, the dog means 22 as shown in FIGURE 1 serves as an additional means to prevent the ratchet wheel 18 from releasing its load during the ratcheting operation. The angular end projection of the dog 86 engages a tooth 19 of the ratchet wheel and prevents clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel. The leaf spring 87 and weight of the lever arm 90 of the rocking member 88 force the dog 86 into engagement with the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel.

When it is desired to disconnect barges and release the load from the ratchet winch, the cam 186 of FIGURE 6 is rotated by lever handle 110 of FIGURE 5 into contact with the upper lever 100 thereby releasing the pawls and 82 from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel 18 remains in a locked position by engagement with the dog 86 which is then released by kicking the dog lever 90 upward. By virtue of the eccentric mounting of the dog 86 on the centrally pivoting rocking member 88, the upward motion of the dog lever 90 forces the dog 86 away from the teeth 19 of the ratchet wheel and lug 92 directs the dog free of the ratchet wheel. Thus the cable load on the ratchet winch is released and the drum 7 6 as well as the hand wheel 36 and ratchet wheel 18 begin to revolve, releasing the tension in the cable 40. In order to prevent cable backlash during the revolving action, foot pressure is applied to the brake pedal 68 which forces the brake shoe 56 against the hand Wheel 36.

To free the cable 40 from the ratchet winch for storage or other disposition, the ramrod 68 is placed against the wedge 66 and the lug 74 is locked in position so that the ramrod rigidly contacts the wedge. Then the hand wheel 36 is operated with oscillating motion whereby the wedge 66 is pounded against the ramrod 68 and is removed from the wedge receiver 64.

Thus provided is a ratchet winch connected to a barge deck in a stationary manner and which is capable of horizontal as well as vertical pivotal positioning for quick tow connection and specially adaptable for barges of differing deck widths and elevation. The ratchet winch of the present invention makes maximum effective use of mechanical advantage in the ratcheting operation and thus provides an easily operable and speedy means of making up barge tows.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the detail of construction and the combination, shape, size and arrangement of part-s may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ratchet winch for interconnecting a barge train by cable including,

a base plate, side members attached to said base plate,

a shaft mounted for rotation between said side members,

a freely rotatable drum mounted on said shaft having a ratchet wheel with teeth and a hand Wheel connected therewith,

wedge means mounted on said drum to forcibly attach the cable to the drum,

means mounted on said base plate to expeditiously secure as well as remove said wedge means by oscillating operation of the hand wheel,

brake means engageable with said hand wheel,

means for limiting the number of winds of cable on said drum so as to maintain high mechanical advantage of the ratchet winch,

manually operable reciprocating means to drive the ratchet wheel,

freely releasable dog means engaging said ratchet wheel and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel relative to said shaft, and

means for pivotally interconnecting one end of said base plate to a barge whereby the ratchet winch is horizontally and vertically maneuverable.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein one end of said base plate is provided with an elongate hole and wherein the means for pivotally interconnecting one end of said base plate to a barge includes,

a U-bolt engaging said hole, and

a doubler plate aflixed to the ends of said U-bolt and attachable to the deck of a barge.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the wedge means mounted on said drum forcibly attaching the cable to the drum include,

a wedge receiver mounted on said drum, and

an arcuate wedge provided with a grooved inner annular recess to forcibly engage said cable with the wedge receiver.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein means mounted on said base plate to secure as well as remove said Wedge means by oscillating operation of the hand wheel include,

at least one ramrod, support means to which the ramrod is pivotally attached, and

a lug attached to said support means adjacent the ramrod to forcibly maintain the ramrod in an engageable position relative to said wedge means.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means limiting number of winds of cable on said drum includes,

at least one vertically extending arm mounted on said base plate and having a circular slot therein,

an extension member pivotally attached to the upper end of said arm and having a transversely mounted bar on one end thereof and a lug on the other end engaging said slot of said arm limiting pivoting of said extension member, and

a spring attached at one end of said extension member and to a side member at its other end tending to yieldingly maintain the extension member in a vertical position relative to the drum and side members.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the freely releasable dog means engaging said ratchet wheel and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel relative to said shaft includes,

a centrally pivoting rocking member mounted on a side member of the base plate next to the ratchet wheel and having a lower projection to arrestingly engage a dog member, a lever arm attached to said rocking member, a dog member pivotally and eccentrically mounted at one end to said rocking member and having an angular projection at the other end to engage said ratchet wheel,

a spring mounted between the base plate and dog yieldingly forcing the dog to mesh with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and

a lug mounted on the side member of the base plate coacting with the angular projection of the end of the rocking member whereby the dog is directed away from the ratchet wheel teeth upon operation of the rocking member leverarm.

7. The invention of claim ll wherein the freely releasable dog means engaging said ratchet wheel and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel relative to said shaft includes,

a centrally pivoting rocking member mounted on a side member of the base plate adjacent the ratchet wheel and having a projection to engage a dog member,

a dog member pivotally and eccentrically mounted at one end to said rocking member for pushing engagement with the ratchet wheel by coaction with the projection of the rocking member,

a lever arm pivotally secured to said rocking member,

and

lug means secured to the rocking member to limit rotation of the lever arm as well as to coact with said lever arm whereby the rocking member may be rotated to disengage the dog member from the ratchet wheel.

8. In a ratchet winch for interconnecting a barge train by cable having a base and side members, a drum, ratchet wheel and hand wheel secured to a shaft rotatably mounted between said side members, manually operable reciprocating means to drive the ratchet wheel, and brake means arrestingly engageable with said hand wheel, the improvement comprising,

wedge means mounted on said drum to forcibly attach the cable to the drum, means mounted on said base plate to expeditiously secure as Well as remove said wedge means by oscillating operation of the hand wheel,

means limiting number of winds of cable on said drum to maintain high mechanical advantage of the ratchet winch,

freely releasable dog means for engaging said ratchet wheel and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel relative to said shaft, and

means for pivotally interconnecting one end of said base member to a barge permitting the ratchet winch to maneuver horizontally and vertically.

9. A freely releasable dog device for engaging the toothed wheel of a ratchet winch and limiting rotation of said wheel, including,

a centrally pivoting rocking member attachable to the ratchet winch and having a lower projection to arrestingly engage a dog member,

a lever arm securely attached to the rocking member for foot operation,

a dog member eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one of its ends to said rocking member and having an angular projection at the other end to engage said ratchet Wheel,

a spring mountable on the ratchet winch engaging the dog member whereby the dog member is yieldingly forced to mesh with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and

a lug mountable on the ratchet winch coacting with the angular projection of the rocking member where by thedog is directed away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon operation of the rocking member 5 lever arm.

. 19. A freely releasable dog device for engaging the toothed wheel of a ratchet winch and limiting rotation of said wheel, including,

a centrally pivoting rocking member attachable to the ratchet winch and having a lower projection to arrestingly engage a dog member,

a dog member eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one of its ends to said rocking member and having an angular projection at the other end to engage said ratchet wheel,

a lever arm securely attached to the rocking member and of sufficient length and weight so that said rocking member and its lower projection act as a fulcrum to forcibly engage the dog member with the ratchet wheel, and

a lug mountable on the ratchet winch coacting With the angular projection of the rocking member whereby the dog is directed away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon operation of the rocking member 55 lever arm.

11. A freely releasable dog device for engaging the toothed wheel of a ratchet winch :and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel, including,

a centrally pivoting rocking member attachable to the ratchet winch and having a projection to arrestingly engage a dog member,

a dog member eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one of its ends to said rocking member for pushing engagement with said ratchet wheel,

a lever arm rotatably attached to the rocking member,

and

lug means for limiting rotation of said lever arm as well as for coaction with said lever arm whereby the rocking member may be rotated to disengage the dog member from the ratchet wheel.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein additionally the lever arm rotatably attached to the rocking member is of sufficient length and weight whereby upon engagement of the lever arm with the lug means the dog member is forceably engaged with the ratchet wheel.

13. A control bar linkage device for expeditiously engaging as well as disengaging crank assembly dual pawls with the ratchet Wheel of a ratchet winch, including,

first and second levers each pivotally mounted at one end to the ratchet winch and each having a leaf spring member attached to said pivotal end connected to one of said pawls,

a third lever pivotally connected at one end to the first lever and at the other end to the second lever so that the first and second levers are maintained in parallel relation, and

cam means rotatably attached to the ratchet winch for coaction with the first and second levers so as to permit engaging or disengaging of the pawls with the ratchet wheel.

14. In a ratchet winch for interconnecting a barge train by cable having a base and side members, a drum, ratchet wheel and hand wheel secured to a shaft rotatably mounted between said side members, manually operable dual pawl reciprocating means to drive the ratchet wheel, the brake means arrestingly engageable with said hand wheel, the improvement comprising,

means for pivotally interconnecting one end of said base member to a barge permitting the ratchet winch to maneuver horizontally and vertically,

freely releasable ratcheting dog means for engaging the ratchet wheel and limiting rotation of said ratchet wheel including,

a centrally pivoting rocking member attachable to the ratchet winch and having a projection to arrestingly engage a dog member,

a dog member eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one of its ends to said rocking member and having an annular projection at the other end to engage said ratchet wheel,

a lever arm securely attached to the rocking member and of sufiicient length and weight so that said rocking member and its lower projection act as a fulcrum to forceably engage the dog member with the ratchet wheel, and

a lug mountable on the ratchet winch coacting with the angular projection of the rocking member whereby the dog is directed away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel upon operation of the rocking member lever arm,

control bar linkage means for expeditiously engaging as well as disengaging said dual pawls with the ratchet wheel. 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the control bar linkage means includes,

first and second lever each pivotally mounted at one end to the ratchet winch and each having a leaf spring member attached to said pivotal end connected to one of said pawls,

a third lever pivotally connected at one end to the first lever and at the other end to the second lever so that the first and second levers are maintained in parallel relation, and

cam means rotatably attached to the ratchet winch for coacting with the first and second levers so as to permit engaging or disengaging of the pawls with the ratchet wheel.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein the freely releasable dog means includes,

a centrally pivoting rocking member attachable to the ratchet winch and having a projection to arrestingly engage a dog member,

a dog member eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one of its ends to said rocking member to pushingly engage the ratchet wheel,

a lever arm rotatably attached to the rocking member and of sufficient length and weight whereby upon coaction with lug means the rocking member and its projection act as a fulcrum to forceably engage the dog member with the ratchet wheel, and

lug means secured to the rocking member limiting rotation of the lever arm as well as coacting with the lever arm whereby upon engagement of the lever arm therewith the dog member may be disengaged from the ratchet wheel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,585 2/1905 Sweet 254-164 823,401 6/1906 Ferris 242-125.1 1,432,096 10/1922 Behie 254- 1,585,118 5/1926 Schoolfield 254-186 1,837,628 12/1931 Merriman 254- 2,193,407 3/1940 Hagen 242-117 2,323,404 7/ 1943 Kuchar. 2,420,594 5/1947 Hall 242-117 2,576,355 11/1951 Parmesan. 2,733,817 2/1956 Couse. 2,759,703 8/1956 Holmes 254-186 2,784,941 3/1957 Rea 254-186 X 2,889,136 6/ 1959 Prete 254-164 3,117,659 1/1964 Selset 254-186 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RATCHET WINCH FOR INTERCONNECTING A BARGE TRAIN BY CABLE INCLUDING, A BASE PLATE, SIDE MEMBERS ATTACHED TO SAID BASE PLATE, A SHAFT MOUNTED FOR ROTATION BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS, A FREELY ROTATABLE DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT HAVING A RATCHET WHEEL WITH TEETH AND A HAND WHEEL CONNECTED THEREWITH, WEDGE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID DRUM TO FORCIBLY ATTACH THE CABLE TO THE DRUM, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PLATE TO EXPEDITIOUSLY SECURE AS WELL AS REMOVE SAID WEDGE MEANS BY OSCILLATING OPERATION OF THE HAND WHEEL, BRAKE MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HAND WHEEL, MEANS FOR LIMITING THE NUMBER OF WINDS OF CABLE ON SAID DRUM SO AS TO MAINTAIN HIGH MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE OF THE RATCHET WINCH, MANUALLY OPERABLE RECIPROCATING MEANS TO DRIVE THE RATCHET WHEEL, FREELY RELEASABLE DOG MEANS ENGAGING SAID RATCHET WHEEL AND LIMITING ROTATION OF SAID RATCHET WHEEL RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING ONE END OF SAID BASE PLATE TO A BARGE WHEREBY THE RATCHET WINCH IS HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY MANEUVERABLE. 